Last Tuesday the ears of all the area NASCAR racing fans perked up. Were they hearing what they thought they were?
It was the distinct roar of race cars running on the asphalt oval known as Iowa Speedway. But the cars were running in front of no fans and no media. Several teams spanning three of the NASCAR sponsored series — Xfinity, Camping World Truck and K&N Pro — were helping Goodyear Tire test tires on the Speedway track.
Now, we’re just four days from Wide Opening Weekend 2015 for Iowa Speedway. No doubt that Tuesday afternoon-into-early-evening testing session was music to the ears of racing fans.
I felt the same way when I sat down to watch the 2015 Kentucky Derby May 2 and heard “and they’re off.” That’s the brand of racing I love to watch. The Kentucky Derby signals the hope of a new Triple Crown winner each year.
American Pharaoh beat out Firing Line and Dortmund for the Kentucky Derby win. It’s on to the Preakness States Saturday and American Pharaoh attempts to become the 12th horse to win the Triple Crown. The last horse to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes was Affirmed in 1978.
So, Saturday is a big sports day for me — looking to see if American Pharaoh can make it two-for-two to keep my Triple Crown winner hope alive and Iowa Speedway’s Wide Opening Weekend.
Stock car racing fans are going to see those up-and-coming drivers Saturday in the K&N Pro Series Casey’s Store 150. Many of the stars of the NASCAR Xfinity and Sprint Cup Series competed in this developmental series.
Seven of the 2015 NASCAR Next drivers are in the K&N Pro Series and should be at Iowa Speedway this weekend. K&N East driver Austin Hill of Winston Ga.. was at Iowa Speedway for the Goodyear Tire testing as were Erik Jones, Daniel Suarez and Ryan Blaney, who all compete in the Xfinity Series.
There’s a lot of crossover among drivers in NASCAR. Jones just made his Sprint Cup debut at Kansas as replacement driver for Kyle Busch. Jones and Suarez drive in the Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Matt Crafton, who won the Truck Series race at Kansas Friday night, leads the NCWTS in points. Crafton helped Goodyear test tires at Iowa on May 5 and will be here for the Truck Series in June.
The 3M 250 Xfinity Series race is Sunday afternoon at Iowa Speedway.
Before all the action at Iowa Speedway gets revved up, there’s plenty of high school spring sports action this week. Thursday signals postseason for several sports.
Newton’s boys are in a Class 2A tennis district tournament at Marshalltown. All five area high schools compete in state qualifying track meets — Newton in 4A at Urbandale, Collins-Maxwell/Baxter and Prairie City-Monroe in 2A at Eddyville, and Lynnville-Sully and Colfax-Mingo in Class 1A at Brooklyn. All happening on Thursday.
Friday is boys’ golf sectionals. Colfax-Mingo and Lynnville-Sully are in a 1A sectional at Pleasantville while PCM is in a 2A sectional at Pella and CMB is at Gilbert in 3A action. Then Monday brings girls’ golf regional action — PCM hosts a 3A regional, which includes CMB, at Monroe and Colfax-Mingo is at Grundy Center in 1A play.
High school softball teams open practices Monday while high school baseball teams enter a second week of practices.
Contact Jocelyn Sheets at
641-792-3121 ext. 6535 or jsheets@newtondailynews.com